Chapter 2 - THE BLOOD DID NOT BELONG TO THE HOUND
The veterinarian arrived through the kitchen entrance twelve minutes later.
Dr. Naomi Pierce had treated Bishop since he was a puppy.
She examined him on the floor of the manor’s private library while Julian stood nearby.
Clara remained because Bishop refused to release the sleeve of her uniform.
Every time she tried to move away, his teeth caught the fabric gently.
“He wants you here,” Naomi said.
Vanessa stood outside the library under guard.
She had stopped demanding to leave.
She had begun sending messages.
Julian’s men collected her phone under the security order.
The first examination revealed a bullet wound along Bishop’s shoulder.
The bullet had passed through muscle without striking bone.
His ribs were bruised but not broken.
The blood covering most of his coat belonged to someone else.
Naomi collected a sample.
Julian stared at the dark stains.
“Mateo.”
Mateo Rafael Kane had served as Julian’s security chief for nine years.
He was also Bishop’s trainer.
Three nights earlier, Mateo drove toward Julian’s mountain residence with Bishop in the back of his SUV.
The vehicle was found abandoned near an old mining road.
There was no body.
No dog.
Only blood and two shell casings.
Julian’s rivals denied involvement.
Several men disappeared after questioning.
None had known where Bishop was.
Naomi opened the black capsule.
Inside was a memory card wrapped in plastic.
There was also a narrow strip of paper.
17-B.
Julian looked toward one of his men.
“Does Highcrest have a room seventeen-B?”
The manager, Adrian Cole, had been brought into the library.
He shook his head too quickly.
“No.”
Clara spoke before she could stop herself.
“There’s an old storage room under the west pavilion.”
“The door says seventeen-B.”
Everyone looked at her.
Adrian’s face tightened.
“That section is closed.”
“Why?” Julian asked.
“Water damage.”
Clara shook her head.
“I delivered linens there last week.”
“There was no water damage.”
Adrian glared at her.
“You are a server.”
“You do not know what you saw.”
Clara felt herself shrinking under his voice.
That was how Highcrest worked.
Managers did not need to threaten employees openly.
They simply reminded them how replaceable they were.
Julian noticed.
“She knows more about this building than you do.”
He looked at Clara.
“Show us.”
Vanessa moved into the doorway.
“No.”
The single word came out sharper than she intended.
Julian turned.
Vanessa immediately softened her tone.
“This is our celebration.”
“Police and guests are already involved.”
“Searching dirty storage rooms will create a scandal.”
Julian studied her.
“Bishop appeared behind the kitchen during a gala you organized.”
“A missing man placed a room number around his neck.”
“And your first concern is the scandal.”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You are letting a waitress manipulate you.”
Clara looked down.
Julian did not.
“Clara carried an injured animal into a room full of people who believed compassion was beneath them.”
“She has earned more credibility tonight than most of my associates have earned in years.”
Clara led Julian, Naomi, and two security men through the service corridor.
The glamour of Highcrest ended behind the banquet walls.
Paint peeled beside the freight elevator.
Exposed pipes crossed the ceiling.
Employees stepped aside when Julian approached.
Some looked frightened.
Others looked hopeful.
Room seventeen-B stood behind the wine cellar.
The lock had been replaced recently.
Adrian claimed he did not have the key.
Julian’s man broke it.
The air inside smelled of bleach, damp concrete, and blood.
A chair stood in the center.
Ropes remained tied around its arms.
A security jacket lay on the floor.
MATEO KANE was stitched above the pocket.
Clara covered her mouth.
Julian picked up a silver watch near the drain.
Mateo’s wife had given it to him on their twentieth anniversary.
Then Bishop began barking from the library above them.
The sound was weak but frantic.
Julian’s phone rang.
Naomi’s voice came through.
“The blood test is back.”
“It belongs to Mateo.”
Before Julian could respond, Clara noticed a small red light beneath a shelf.
May you like
A camera was recording them.
Someone knew they had found the room.
